Surgical instrument



Q June 21, 1966 J. DE MARCO 3,256,874

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,0 [m1 I t d Vl2 FIG 42 JOHN J. 51%???) 6M. J: JZMM June 21, 1966 J. J. DE MARCO3,256,374

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOH/YJ. .UEMARCO United States Patent 3,256,874 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT John J.De Marco, 1840 S. Shore Drive, Erie, Pa. Filed Nov. .20, 1962, Ser. No.238,977 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-2) The present invention relates to atracheotome and, more particularly, to a biopsy knife for obtainingbiopsies of the cervix of the uterus of human females.

- The use of the normal straight scalpel or knife for obtaining biopsiesof the cervix of the uterus has many disadvantages. Because of thelocation and approach to the cervix of the uterus, it is difficult toproperly position a straight scalpel to obtain a biopsy. Also, greatcare must be taken that the cut is not too deep, for a hemorrhage may becaused. Thus, it is a difficult task to make a biopsy cut of uniformdepth of representative tissue with a straight scalpel, particularlywhen operating on the cervix of the uterus through the small restrictedarea of the vagina.

In the use of biopsy knives presently available, it is necessary for asurgeon to cut half of the conical biopsy from the cervix of the uterusand then to. change the posit-ion of his body in order to move his armto the proper position for cutting the other half of the conical biopsy.This makes it inconvenient for the surgeon and, also, since his body isin an inconvenient position, lends the possibility of his making anerror in the cut.

The present invention provides a knife handle which will hold anyregular knife blade at each end. -It holds the blade at approximately athirty degree angle which automatically excises a cone of the cervix asit incises. This degree of angulation makes the instrument moremaneuverable than a straight handle in the restricted space of thevaginal canal.

By having a blade at an angle at each end which goes in a differentdirection, the entire three hundred sixty degrees of the cervix isreadily incised to yield a smooth, intact conical biopsy. One end of thehandle with blade Will easily incise one entire half of the cervix and,by changing to the other end, the remaining half of the cervix islikewise incised, thereby obtaining the'intact, smooth conical biopsy ofthe cervix. The handle is easily held in the middle by the surgeon andit permits the use of either end at either time by simply alternatingone end or the other.

In this embodiment of the invention, a knife handle is shown whichpossesses approximately a thirty degree angle at the end which holds thedouble edged knife blade. This degree of angulation makes the instrumentmore maneuverable than a straight handle in the restricted space of thevaginal canal. Also, because of the angle, the instrument produces anautomatic cone of tissue as it incises. With the use of a double edgedknife blade, the instrument will incise in two directions instead of onewhich provides for an up and down as well as a right and left cuttingmotion, facilitating complete conization encirclement of the cervix.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pointed knife blade isprovided With a double cutting edge. It fits on any standard knifehandle and can be used in any type of surgery where such a blade couldbe employed. It is especially desirable for use with the single endedcervical conization scalpel Where it is useful for conization of thecervix which requires cutting at an angle around a complete circle inthe restricted area of the vaginal canal.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to Provide animproved biopsy knife.

Another object of the invention is to provide a biopsy knife which isshaped to permit ease of insertion and manipulation in the cervix of theuterus.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a biopsy knife whichcuts a specimen of a definite continuous conical shape from the uteruswith a minimum of movement of the operating surgeons body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a surgeons biopsy knifewith a blade in combination therewith disposed at a particular angle tothe handle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a biopsy knife with ablade disposed at a particular angle to the hand-1e in combination witha double edged blade on the knife.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a biopsy knifehaving a blade on each end thereof.

Still yet a further object of the invention is to provide a biopsy knifewhich is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simpleand efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minordetails of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a single edged blade according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows the blade mounted on a two ended handle such as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the handle with- I out the bladethereon;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a double ended handle having both ends similar to the endshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the handle shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 for mounting thedoubled edged blade shown in FIGS. 7A and 9;

FIG. 7A is a top partial view of an end of the handle shown in FIGS. 7and 8 with a double edged blade thereon; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of the double edged blade unmounted.

Now referring more particularly to the drawings, the embodiments of theinvention each incorporate the same type of knife holder on a handle. Ahandle 12 has a knife receiving end indicated at 14. The principaldifference between the embodiment of the handle shown in FIGS. 5 and 6from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8' is that the embodiment ofFIGS. 7 and 8 is single ended for use with a double edged blade whilethe embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is doubled ended for use with a singleedged blade.

The knife receiving ends 14 are of a conventional type except that theyare disposed at an improved angle to the handle 12 at approximatelythirty degrees. Prior handles have held their blades at a considerablygreater or a consider-ably lesser angle for one reason or another. Aconventional groove 18 is received in an opening or hole 26 in theblade. That is, an enlarged portion 27 of the end 14 slips through anenlarged part 22 of the opening 26 and the material of the end 14defining the the groove 18 overlies the marginal portions defining theenlarged portion 27 of the opening. A shoulder 29 then rests against theinside of the enlarged part of the opening.

The knife receiving end 14 is disposed at, an angle of approximatelythirty degrees to the handle 12. It has been discovered that an angle ofapproximately thirty degrees is a much more natural angle at which theknife may be held for a biopsy on the cervix and, therefore, a moreprecise operation can be performed.

The knife receiving end 14 has a shoulder 24 which rests against an end28 of the knife 36. The knife 36 has a single sharpened edge 23 and theopposite side thereof is dull.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the knife hasa cutting edge 160 and another cutting edge 161 which are disposed onopposite sides so that the surgeon can cut one-half of the cervicalbiopsy cone with one edge of the knife and the other half with the otheredge. Edges 162 and 163 are also sharpened. The edges 160 and 161 areapproximately thirty degrees to each other. Edges 162 and 163 are alsoapproximately thirty degrees to each other and on each side of anopening 127. This makes it possible for the surgeon to complete thebiopsy without shifting his body. The opening 127 and end 114 of handle112 are similar to the corresponding parts of the handle 12 in FIGS. 1to 6.

The double ended handle shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a knife on each end.With this double ended knife, a surgeon may cut half of the conicalbiopsy from the cervical canal of the uterus and then he may reverse theknife and cut the other half of the conical biopsy without putting hisbody in an inconvenient and off balanced position for this operation.Therefore, the two knives on opposite ends of the biopsy knife cooperateto accomplish a unitary result in cutting a single biopsy without havingthe surgeon unbalance and inconvenience his position which might resultin injury to the patient.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A biopsy instrument for cutting a conical shaped biopsy specimen fromthe walls of the cervix comprising a handle,

thin blade supporting tip means extending from said handle,

thin blade means,

and means on said tip means fixing said thin blade means to said tipmeans,

said blade means having two cutting edges, one on each side of saidblade means,

said blade means being disposed in a plane and said handle beinginclined laterally at an angle of approximately thirty degrees to saidplane,

said blade means being elongated and having point means on the distalend thereof,

each side of said blade means adjacent said point means being sharpened,

said sharpened sides being disposed at approximately thirty degrees toeach other and generally symmetrical to said blade means,

one said cutting edge being disposed on the right hand side of saidhandle and the other at the left hand side whereby a surgeon can cuthalf said biopsy specimen with one said cutting edge and half with theother.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 201,782 3/1878Helck 3O353 1,639,996 8/1927 Groff 128-405 OTHER REFERENCES Y StandardSurgical Instruments: Kny-Sheerer Corporation of America, Jan 21, 1930.Only pp. 3041, 3207, 5183 and 5184 relied upon.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 7

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

W. E. KAMM, H. R. GOLDBERG, Assistant Examiners;

